Method and apparatus for wrapping groups of cigarettes

Abstract

Apparatus for wrapping a stack of cigarette packs in a carton blank includes means for severing a blank from a supply web fed to the apparatus in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the stack, vacuum suction means for holding the severed blank and rotating it until its longitudinal axis is aligned with that of the stack, and slider means for pushing the stack off of its feed conveyor, against the blank, and into the opening of a mouthpiece, whereby the blank is U-wrapped around the stack.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. In an apparatus for wrapping a stack (10) of a plurality of cigarette packs (11) in a carton blank (12), said blank being separable from a web of material (13) fed to the apparatus in a vertical plane wherein the longitudinal axis of said web is rotationally displaced from the longitudinal horizontal axis of said stack, the improvements characterized by: (a) cutting means including a blade member (24) movable in a direction perpendicular to said vertical plane for severing a carton blank from said web,   (b) a vertically oriented blank holder (15) disposed adjacent said blade member but spaced therefrom in the direction of cutting movement thereof, said blank holder comprising a disc rotatable about its own median transverse axis perpendicular to said vertical plane,   (c) a plurality of suction holders (16) associated with said blank holder for retaining a severed carton blank thereon delivered thereto by the cutting movement of said blade member,   (d) means for rotating said blank holder and retained carton blank about said axis to align the axes of said blank with the horizontal axes of said stack, and   (e) a separate mouthpiece axially displaceable with respect to said blank and defining an opening through which said stack may be pushed, said mouthpiece including an upper edge comprising said blade member, and wherein said cutting means further comprises a stationary counter blade disposed on the opposite side of the web from said blade member which cooperates with the blade member of the mouthpiece to sever the blank from the web.   
     
     
       2. In an apparatus for wrapping a stack (10) of a plurality of cigarette packs (11) in a carton blank (12), said blank being separable from a web of material (13) fed to the apparatus in a vertical plane wherein the longitudinal axis of said web is rotationally displaced from the longitudinal horizontal axis of said stack, the improvements characterized by: (a) cutting means including a blade member (24) movable in a direction perpendicular to said vertical plane for severing a carton blank from said web,   (b) a vertically oriented blank holder (15) disposed adjacent said blade member but spaced therefrom in the direction of cutting movement thereof, said blank holder comprising a disc rotatable about its own median transverse axis perpendicular to said vertical plane,   (c) a plurality of suction holders (16) associated with said blank holder for retaining a severed carton blank thereon delivered thereto by the cutting movement of said blade member,   (d) means for rotating said blank holder and retained carton blank about said axis to align the axis of said blank with the horizontal axis of said stack,   (e) a separate mouthpiece axially displaceable with respect to said blank and defining an opening through which said stack may be pushed,   (f) a conveyor for said stack of cigarette packs disposed between the mouthpiece and the rotary disc, and   (g) a slider mounted in a central opening of the rotary disc, displaceable at right angles thereto, and insertable in the mouthpiece opening for removing said stack of packs from the conveyor.